The UMD Council on the Environment is an advisory group to UMD on research, education and outreach as they relate to the environment, globally and regionally. The Council oversees strategic efforts to place UMD at the forefront of environmental and earth system science; including developing new partnerships with federal and state agencies/laboratories, corporations, and universities; creating new transdisciplinary funding opportunities across multiple campus units; identifying philanthropic sources of funding for environmental initiatives; and promoting opportunities for economic development.